Arizona's Peterson relishes being highest-paid CB

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) -- Patrick Peterson is the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL.

Just ask him.

Not only did he tweet out the terms of his new contract - five years, $70 million, $48 million guaranteed - he referred to himself as the highest-paid at his position at least five times in the Arizona Cardinals news conference announcing the new deal on Wednesday - twice before he was ever asked a question.

He's long maintained he's the league's best cornerback. Now he says has higher goals - the playoffs, a Super Bowl title, the Hall of Fame.

And Peterson doesn't speak as if he's boasting, rather just a matter of the facts.

In just three years, he has become, as he put it, ''a face of the organization.''

Arizona Cardinals' Patrick Peterson speaks at a news conference after reaching an agreement on a …

''I think I have done a lot in my young career to be recognized not only as the best cornerback in the league,'' he said, ''but as the highest-paid cornerback in the league. I think my body of work is only going to get better.''

Peterson said the contract won't mean an added burden.

''Honestly, I don't think my responsibilities have grown,'' he said, ''because I've been the guy that wants to get better each and every day. I want to be the guy who leads this team. I want to be a face of this organization. I have accomplished that in my first three years. Now it's getting championships.''

Peterson, who turned 24 on July 11, has made the Pro Bowl each of his three NFL seasons after Arizona selected him with the fifth overall pick in the 2011 draft. He made it as a punt returner in his rookie season, and as a cornerback the past two years. He and Sherman were first-team All-Pro last season.

''He's very, very mature,'' Cardinals coach Bruce Arians said. ''I don't like using that role model word, but he's a perfect citizen.''

Peterson has become a mentor for safety Tyrann Mathieu, who also went to LSU and had marijuana-related problems before coming to the NFL last year and excelling as a rookie before going down with a late-season knee injury.

Now, Peterson said, it's time for him to aim for more.

''I want to be in the Hall of Fame someday,'' he said. ''I have bigger goals than a massive contract. I haven't been to the playoffs since I've been here. I had one winning season since I've been here. I want to bring a championship to this city, to this organization. I want to hoist that Lombardi Trophy.''